"As you know, in these challenging times economically, the middle class are working harder, earning less, and paying more. And that, the problems facing, and the challenges facing the country require that people of both parties work together to solve those problems," Emanuel told reporters Thursday.

soundoff(66 Responses)

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX

"My name is Rahm
Emanuel and I'm an expert at executive hardball. Let me explain to you how we're going to run the country together. If you choose not to get in lock step, we have files on all of you which we are prepared to share with your constituents at election time. Got it?
Any Questions?
No?
Good!!!

November 20, 2008 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Ralph Il

Finally someone knows what the problem is. Now lets find a solution.

Let us steal from the Rich for a change.

November 20, 2008 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |

Angie

BIPARTIANSHIP BIPARTINSHIP good choice on Rahm President Obama Good choice!

November 20, 2008 03:15 pm at 3:15 pm |

Michael I Hastings Minnesota

"Brendan H., San Antonio, TX:

You mean he will copy the GOP play book ?

November 20, 2008 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |

EW

Heh. At least Ralph IL admints that it is stealing.

Rahm Emanuel has a temper like a keg of nitroglycerine. Even look at him wrong and he blows up.

If you look up partisanship in the dictionary theer is a picture of Emanuel.

November 20, 2008 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |

alana

Can a conservative answer this question for me? Since you believe in smaller government and you don’t want the government interfering in your religion then why do you insist on the legislating your religious beliefs and forcing on others?

November 20, 2008 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |

zenter

just do it boys!

November 20, 2008 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

Jack

Brendan H from San Antonio, how is that any different than how the "hammer" ran congress under the republicans? The republican party just wrote laws without even showing them to the democrats and you criticize Rahm?

Hopefully none of the Republicans were standing directly in front of him, lest they be poked by his growing nose.

Is that a toilet I hear flushing? Nope, just America under this new administration. The only ones who are going to come out on top these next 4 years are Obama and his pals. Everyone else (including those delusional enough to actually believe the stuff he was spreading) will be suffering. That's the Chicago way!

Oh, and to Ralph Il November 20th, 2008 3:14 pm ET – just who do you think Obama, Oprah, Pelosi, Dodd, and Frank are, the dirt poor? Granted you voted for Obama so you're not that smart to begin with, but really.

November 20, 2008 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |

Latina-Indepedent-4-OBAMA

I see the far-right-vile comments are here, under an article about doing the best for our Nation. Which is something the Bush/Cheney administration has failed miserably at!

What's amusing about the far-right-bloggers, is that they never explain nor excuse Bush/Cheney. They just keep spewing the same GOP-vile that lost them the election....... and the American people!

November 20, 2008 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |

LyonsPhilly

Do the darn thing Rahm....Lay your smackdown on these lazy clowns.

November 20, 2008 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

D

Give 'em hell Rahm!!!!!!! They gave it to us

November 20, 2008 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX

You're all reading me wrong. I favor Emanuel. he's going to get things done in spite of the GOP!

The "Hammer"? How's he doing these days?!

The GOP are going toget a good ole fashion dose of trips to the woodshed if they even try to block important legislation!

November 20, 2008 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |

Greed is not good

All business Rahm....taking charge.

November 20, 2008 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |

D

Republican still don't get it. Americans are done with gridlock, excuses and fingerpointing. They are already poised to block the new administration just because he is a winner. Best not to cause too much trouble or you will be back on the block, job hunting.

November 20, 2008 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

Phil, Ashburn, VA

PEBO – Pres elect Barack Obama is doing all the right things so far. He is also reaching out to repubs to get things done. Hoepfully he will be able to do it.

November 20, 2008 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |

Ken

alana, you put your question to the wrong people. True conservatives are not the ones insisting on legislating their religion......those people would be the religious rightwing.....and those people are far from conservative, although they have the MSM hoodwinked into labeling them 'conservative'. The rightwing and the [R] party is full of religious reactionary zealots - behavior that is a far cry from conservative, and more like the Taliban or al queda, the very tools they use to fear-monger for political purposes. It cracks me up that [R]s still think they are the party of conservatives. I voted for Obama and [D] congresspeople, and I'll put up my conservative credentials against 95% of the [R]s anyday.....I'm conservative, not stupid.

November 20, 2008 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |

Steve

He doesn't "welcome their ideas and their concepts" one bit. Abortion, taxes, gay marriage, smaller government. Who's he fooling? And when you look at the mess Chicago is in (county board, tax rate, schools), you have to wonder what anyone saw in this clown or Obama to think they're going to fix anything. They're a couple of Chicago machine politicians, nothing more. Their true incompetence shouldn't take long to surface. They're out of their league. Must be why they're calling all the Clintonites out of retirement to run things, since they know they themselves can't.

November 20, 2008 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |

eh

now that is how to walk the talk

November 20, 2008 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |

carol

This is want we want to see, both sides of the isle working together....we all want this country to get working again, so roll on Jan 20th so we can get new leadership in place and get cracking.

November 20, 2008 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |

Kathy

Republicans pretty much have had their way for six of the last eight years. Now they are going to have to listen to some new ideas, they can get with it or not. Americans decided we are not interested in much of anything a Republican is selling. They would do themselves a great service by serving all of the country, instead of those just like them. The President-Elect is not ignoring them, like they ignored the American people for the last eight years. The incoming administration is extending the olive branch. The Republicans need to get over their old-fashioned butt kicking and reach out for the branch. It will take us all working together to move forward.

November 20, 2008 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |

Rick

Change you can believe in? lol...what a joke......it's going to be fun laughing at these clowns for the next 4 years.

November 20, 2008 03:42 pm at 3:42 pm |

Stacy from Loudoun County VA

Mess with Rahm...he'll give them change they can really believe in...a change of shorts that is. Seriously, I think it is great that he had a chance to meet with Republicans and discuss bipartisan ways to work together.

November 20, 2008 03:45 pm at 3:45 pm |

Vicki5

Rick...You sound like you are from, say Jr. High. Grow up.

November 20, 2008 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

Angie

Well at least obama and his newly Administration is trying to reach across the Asile, I dont recall the my way or the highway Bush ever doing it! @@@ RICK you know what will be funny when it takes a good 16 years or so for the Republicans to come back now thats funny hahahahahlololo